A CRACK Royal protection officer who was dismissed as “just a P***” by superior officers is set to receive a substantial payout after a tribunal ruled he had been racially victimised.

PC Nadeem Saddique claimed an inspector referred to him as a “P***” and a “black ****”

PC Nadeem Saddique, who served as a VIP protection officer in the firearms department at Cleveland Police, claimed an inspector referred to him as a “P***” and a “black ****” behind his back and that he was subject to ongoing racism at work.

Another sported an English Defence League sticker on his gun holster with references to Muslims and a Crusade.

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He also claimed that his VIP firearms officer status, which had seen him protect then Prime Minister Tony Blair and act as a driver for the Royal family, was removed and never returned.

Judge Tudor Garnon found 19 instances of victimisation and 11 of racial discrimination by senior officers including Inspector Mick Robson, and the force’s head of professional standards, Superintendent Jon Green.

A remedy hearing will now ascertain the level of damages Cleveland Police must pay.

The officer, who received £10,000 in 2004 after being wrongfully arrested by his own force during a domestic incident, declined to comment because he remains a serving officer.

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Judge Garnon found 19 instances of victimisation and 11 of racial discrimination by senior officers

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A remedy hearing will now ascertain the level of damages Cleveland Police must pay

The problem with Cleveland Police is there is a culture of trying to hide, rather than dealing with, any problems

Former Cleveland officer Sultan Alam

But last night his wife Kim said: “It was never his intention to go to a tribunal, however after having experienced difficulties for over 10 years and having exhausted all internal avenues, which included two Chief Constables, Officers of ACPO rank and middle management, all of whom failed to resolve the situation. It has been a long and difficult process which has saddened us both and taken its toll.”

The force denied the comments were ever made but yesterday amid calls for the senior officers involved to be sacked, Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer said: “I take these findings extremely seriously and all of the issues within the tribunal’s judgement will be quickly and carefully considered.”

Middlesbrough-born PC Saddique joined the force in 1991 and trained as an Authorised Firearms Officer in 2001 before becoming a VIP Close Protection Officer five years later.

But the tribunal heard how Sergeant Duncan Charlesworth allegedly confided that Inspector Mick Robson told another officer during a night out: ‘I’ll get that black **** out of firearms watch.’

The officer, referred to as Sergeant A, allegedly replied: “Who does he think he is, he is just a P***.”

PC Saddique was the only Black and Minority Ethnic officer in Cleveland Firearms unit at the time.

When he asked his colleague why the incident had not been reported, Sgt Charlesworth allegedly replied: “Don’t be daft, no-one will listen or take any action.”

Former Cleveland officer Sultan Alam, who won almost £1m in a race case against the Cleveland force in 2012, called for officers found to have been guilty of discrimination to be dismissed.

He said: “There is no place in the police force for bigotry.

“The problem with Cleveland Police is there is a culture of trying to hide, rather than dealing with, any problems.”